Floatable self-centering target



March 4, 1969 T. A. LAKEMAN 3,430,958

FLOATABLE SELF-CENTERING TARGET Filed Jan. 19, 1967 Sheet of 4 11VVENTOB. THO/Ms Asnusv lnxsmnu aw WM mwwzw Affoms March 59 T. A. LAKEMAN3,430,958

FLOATABLE SELFCENTERING TARGET Filed Jan. 19, 1967 Sheet 3 of 4 PIC-7.5.

ZN VEN T012. FIOMAS AsHzm bms-Mmv zwwt/z/mmuwz I J/forne gs March 4,1969 T. A. LAKEMAN 3,430,958

FLOATABLE SELF-CENTERING TARGET Filed Jan. 19, 1967 Sheet :3 of 4 1NMENTOR. mom/as ASHLEY Lfl/(EMHN T. A. LAKEMAN March 4, 1969 3,430,958

FLOATABLE SELF-CENTERING TARGET Sheet 4 of 4 Filed Jan. 19, 1967INVENTOR. 7i/0Mfls ASHLEY LAKE/mu m ww Arfarne s United States Patent 11Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention consists ofimprovements in game apparatus including two goal assemblies each ofwhich is to be disposed at one end of the playing area which ispreferably a swimming bath so that the apparatus floats in the water.Each goal assembly consists of a goal supported on a plastic or othersupport and held in the middle of the assembly by three, four or moreflexible rays which connect the goal to an outer circular tube. The raysare shorter than the normal distance between the goal and the circulartube so that the goal is properly disposed at the centre of the circle.Instead of using two goals a simple game may be played using oneassembly.

This invention is concerned with the provision of improved apparatus forplaying a ball game on land or in water. My ball game is preferablyplayed by two teams who endeavour to score goals by propelling the ballinto the goal at the opposite end of the field of play which may in factbe land or water and my improved apparatus is especially concerned withthe goal assembly which may be provided at each end of the field of playor which may be used as a single goal.

According to the present invention I provide a goal assembly comprisingan outer substantially circular tube by means of which the assembly iscaused to float when in the water, and which may be looked upon ratheras the rim of a wheel, a central goal member adapted to receive and toretain the ball when a goal is scored which may be looked upon rather asthe hub of a wheel and a plurality of flexible or partly flexible raysconnecting the tube to the central goal in the manner of spokes, thearrangement being such that the radial length of the rays is less thanthe true distance from the goal to the natural circular shape of thetube so that the tube is pulled inwardly at the places where the raysjoin the member and the rays are under constant tension whereby the goalmember is effectively centralised and stabilised.

The circular tube may be a relatively large bore circle of tubing madeof a suitable plastics material for example standard polyethylene waterpipe of 1" bore with plugged ends to form the main floatation for thegoal.

The central goal may conveniently be in the form of a standard householdbowl of plastics material which is inverted and has the centre bottom ofthe bowl removed which makes a central opening to form an aperture forthe ball, the edges of the opening preferably being bent inwardly toreceive the ball. In addition a number of holes are provided in the sidethrough which the inner ends of the rays may be extended and two extraholes in the outer bottom to receive the legs of an arch member whichstands up above the bowl to act as the goal posts. The central openingin the bowl may have a diameter approximately and this novel adaptationof the bowl is an important feature of the invention as the cost of thebowl in quantity may be well under four shillings or cents each and thecolours may be brilliant which is also important as an attraction. Thearch member may be of metal or of a firm plastics material e.g. a strongplastics tube and a suitable net may be provided.

3,430,958 Patented Mar. 4, 1969 There may be four separate rays set atapart at N., S., E. and W. and these flexible rays are preferable madeof plastics material and are connected to the bowl and to the outer tubeso as to be under tension. However preferably I provide two ray memberseach of which extend from one side of the tubular member through thebowl to the other side of the tubular member so that each ray memberforms a complete diameter of the substantially circular tube.

I prefer to provide a special or suitable form of quick release couplingbetween the rays and the tube and/or between the rays and the bowl.

The outer circular tube is preferably a single length of flexibleplastics tube bent around into a circle with the free endsinterconnected for example by a plug e.g. a short rustless pipe plugfixed in one end of the tube, the projecting end of which is an easy fitinside the other end, see FIGURE 2. Disconnection of the two ends duringplay is prevented by providing a sleeve or link to embrace the joint andto hold it in place. This sleeve or link may also serve for connectionof one of the rays to the tube. Four sleeves may be provided on the tubeto receive the ends of the four rays but the sleeve which embraces thejoint in the tube is larger than the other three or made of widermaterial. Alternatively and preferably a quick release slot is providedin the end of each ray to engage with a T-shaped or other stud on asleeve on the circular tube so that a quick release link is provided.

To hold the goal assembly in a required position I may provide an anchorin the form of a weight and to retain the anchor in position I connectit to a flexible and resilient, e.g. elastic, cable which is wound andunwound as required from a suitable form of reel connected to theunderside of the goal e.g. to one of the ray members as it passes underthe bowl.

Some advantages of my game are that it is:

(1) Eflicient both in water (the main requirement) and on land;

(2) Cheap to buy;

(3) Long lasting;

(4) Easy to manufacture;

(5) Easy to repair;

(6) Interesting from the player aspect;

(7) Interesting from the spectator aspect;

(8) Shows up well on television-both black and white, and colour.

(9) Caters for the very young children or invalids on land or in shallowwater;

()10) Caters for schools (both sexes for land and water use (11)Suitable for swimming club use in pool, lake or sea;

(12) Easy to pack up and comp-act for storage and transit, and is lightin weight. For example in packing up a goal assembly the circular tubemay simply be disconnected at the join and from the rays and may then becoiled up e.g. with three coils.

(13) Quick to bring into use both on water and on land, since it is easyto assemble and marking out of the field of play is not required.

(14) Generally safe in usea difficult point in water games. Thematerials used were chosen always with this in mind.

A preferred embodiment of the invention together with some suggestedrules for play and some modifications will now be described by way ofexample, in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of the game apparatus usingfour separate rays and FIGURE 2 is a plan view of an embodimentillustrating diametrical rays.

FIGURE 3 is a detail view showing the means for connecting the two endsof the tube.

FIGURE 4 is a detail view showing how the rays are connected to the tubeand correctly positioned thereon.

FIGURE 5 is detail view showing the engagement of the arch member withone of the rays.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 illustrating the use of fourseparate rays each consisting of one length of material.

FIGURE 7 is a detail view of the goal showing how the edges may be bentdown inwardly to receive the ball.

FIGURE 8 is a detail view illustrating the reel upon which is wound acord supporting an anchor.

FIGURE 9 is a detail sectional plan of one form of the invention showingthe goal and the centre part of the rays.

FIGURE 10 is a detail view showing one way of connecting the net to thearch and FIGURE 11 is a detail view of a modification showing theconnection of a ray to the tube for quick release and connection.

The game, which I call Ringball, is mainly a water game which will testthe skill, speed, and endurance of swimmers-and with slightmodifications in the rules it makes a fast land game.

Two goal assemblies including their circular tubes are the only markingsrequired, therefore the game can be played in the water and play can becommenced within 30 seconds. In 30 seconds also the goals can be removedand the area made free again for general swimming etc.

The goal assemblies are especially designed to make the equipment safein use and so the assemblies have no sharp projections or hard surfaces.

Each of the two goals 1 is surrounded by a 9 foot diameter protectiveand substantially circular tube 2. The diameter of each goal is 8inches, with an 8 inch high arch 3. The goals may be set 20 yards apartand are anchored by an adjustable elastic cord 4 ending with a leadweight 5. The adjustable elastic cord 4 should be only just long enoughto avoid pulling down the floating goal 1.

The ball 6 is preferably 7 /2 inches in diameter and is a reducedpressure standard size 4 plastic lightweight football.

A stop net 7 is fitted to the arch 3 over the goal 1 so that it ispossible to score a goal with a really hard shot. Flexible rays 8centralizing the goal 1 within the substantially circular tube 2 areplaced under tension by deforming the tube 2 by making the flexible rays8 shorter than the true radial distance from the goal 1 to the naturalcircle formed by the tube 2. The effect of this is to force anapproximately flat section to form on the tube 2 at each of the fourconnecting points between the four rays 8 and the tube 2. Connection ofthe rays 8 to the tube 2 may be effected by the provision of a loop 9 atthe outer end of each ray 8 as will be hereinafter more fully described.This results in the four flexible rays 8 being I under constant tensionand this tension device holds the central goal 1 steady. Naturally ifdesired I may provide an assembly with three rays instead of four orwith more than four rays. As a goal I use a standard preferably colouredplastic household bowl 10 which is inverted and a hole 11 is providedfor each ray and 2 holes 12 are provided for the legs of the arch. Ahole 13 to receive the ball is formed in the inverted base of the bowl10 at the centre thereof. When inverted this provides a firm arch 3which is required and a convenient centre anchorage for the 4 rays. Whenin use the goal is not obviously an inverted household bowl and appearsas just a part of the manufactured goal design.

The use of a large bore tube 2 of plastic material for example standardpolyethylene Water piping of 1 bore with plugged ends as the mainfloatation means for the goal 1 is another feature of the invention.

This circular tube 2 supports the rays 8 and through them, the goal 1,so that the rays 8 in effect act as suspension bridges at right anglesto each other supporting the goal 1 at their centres. This is especiallythe case when I use two double-ended rays 8 instead of four separaterays so that the rays in effect cross each other under the centre of thegoal 1 although this is not apparent unless the underside of the goal 1is examined.

This construction adds very greatly to the strength of the rays 8 and isan advantage with the suspension bridge design. An easy but firmjunction of the meeting ends of the circular tube 2 may be arranged, seeFIGURE 3, by a short plug 14 which is fixed in one end 15 of the tube 2and the projecting end of which is an easy push fit inside the other end16 of the tube 2. The loosening off of the ends 15, 16 during play isprevented by connecting a ray to the tube at the joint and by theprovision of a loop 9 of wider material for the connection of this rayas indicated for example in FIGURES l and 2 at 9'. The extra width ofthe device 9' at the joint where the two ends 15, 16 of the tube areconnected assists in retaining the plug 14 in its connecting position.

In at least some cases some form of special retaining device may beadvisable because many teams playing Ringball will consist of youngchildren not strong enough to pull out any tight fitting simple push-indevice.

One method of providing for the quick release of the rays 8 and tolocate them in position is to provide a loop 17 at the end of each raymember 8 as a fixture to the rays as illustrated in FIGURE 4. Theseloops 17 may he slipped over one end of the tube 2 when it isdisconnected, that is before assembly, and the loops 17 may be pushedaround the tube 2 so that they assume their proper position relativelyto the centre and relatively to one another. In order to locate the raysand loops in their proper position I provide a pair of collars 18 ateach locating point, the collars 18 being fixed to the outside of thetube with a space in between to receive the loop. The loops 17 arearranged so as to be big enough and sufiiciently resilient to slipeasily over the collars when the loops are being put on but when theapparatus is assembled the tension on the rays 8 is sufficient to holdthe loops in position.

The centre parts 19 of the rays may be of tubular formation or of parttubular formation as indicated for example in FIGURES 1 and 2 and strapsof polyvinyl chloride or other suitable plastics material may be usedfor the outer part 20 of the rays 8.

The net 7 may be fixed to the goal arch 3 by a series of bands ofplastic insulating tape or by any other convenient method.

The arch 3 is arranged to hold the net very accurately in position andthis is important because I provide a double-sided net to give an equalchance of scoring from either side of the net. Hard shooting will soondisturb the accurate centering of the net unless it is firmly secured inposition.

The lower ends of the arms of arch 3 are of inverted U shape at 22 tofit over the corresponding centre part 19 of a ray under the goal 1.This U shaping at 22 is an important part of the arch fitting becausethe arch 3 has to withstand frequent and possibly extremely hard blowsfrom the ball 6 without changing position or shape and yet has to beeasily removable for transit by being withdrawn through the 2tight-fitting circular holes 12 in the goal top surface. Nylon or othercord fixes the 2 inverted U arch ends to the ray tube as will behereinafter more frully described.

A reel 24 is provided for the cord 4 to which the weight 5 is connectedand this reel 24 may be made of a length of plastics pipe with endflanges 25 fitted. One of the end flanges may have slots 26 to receiveand fix the cord 4 to retain it at a desired length, see FIGURE 8.

When using two double ended rays 8 the outer part 20 of each ray 8 maybe of flat strap form and is relatively flexible and the centre part 19may be of more rigid plastics material.

In FIGURE 8 it will be observed that the outer part of each ray is aflat strap and that the centre part of each ray comprises a tubularsection extended through a hole in the side of the inverted bowl andthen flattened or opened out inside the bowl. Each strap is pushedthrough its tubular section and is secured in position therein byshaping the inner end of the strap to engage with the tubular section.

As an alternative I may use four entirely separate rays 8 in which caseeasy ray may be partly relatively rigid and partly flexible or each maybe flexible along its whole length, but in the preferred constructioneach ray comprises a length of flat plastics material connected at theouter end to the tube and at the inner end to the central goal asdescribed in connection with FIGURE 8.

The net may be connected to the arch in various ways but I prefer toconnect it in position by means of a relatively thick cord 27 secured ateach lower end to lugs 28 connected to the arch, the cord 27 beingconnected at intervals around the arch by a series of loops 29 in athinner cord 30 pulled out through holes in the arch. In this case itwill be understood that the arch is tubular and the cord 30 is extendedaround the arch inside the tube. The ends of the cord 27 are securedbelow the lugs by a knot at each end.

Another method of connecting the rays 8 to the tube 2 to provide thequick connection and release feature is illustrated in detail in FIGUREin which each ray, only one being shown, has a slot 31 therein which forconnection is slipped over a T-shaped projection 32 on a sleeveconnected to the outside of the tube 2, disconnection being effectedsimply by aligning the slot with the projection and then slipping theray ofl the projection.

To sum up therefore I have provided a game apparatus comprising a goal 1surrounded by a circular tube 2, an arch 3 being provided over the goalto support a net 7. The apparatus is anchored by a weight 5 suspendedfrom a cord 4 and the game is played with a ball 6. Flexible rays 8connect the goal 1 to the tube 2 and these rays are under tension sothat the goal is properly centered. Other details of the apparatus willbe readily understood from the foregoing description.

I claim:

1. A goal assembly for a game comprising an outer substantiallycircular, resilient, water tight tube by means of which the assembly iscaused to float when in the water and which may be looked upon as therim of a wheel, a central goal member adapted to receive and to retain aball when a goal is scored and which may be looked upon as the hub of awheel and a plurality of flexible rays connecting the outer circulartube to the central goal in the manner of spokes, the arrangement beingsuch that the radial length of the rays is less than the true distancefrom the goal to the natural circular shape of the tube so that the tubeis pulled inwardly at the places where the rays join the tube and therays are kept under constant tension whereby the goal member iseffectively centralised and stabilised.

2. A goal assembly according to claim 1 wherein each ray forms a radiusof the circular tube and extends from the central goal to the tube.

3. A goal assembly according to claim 1 wherein two rays are formed by asingle member which extends across the circle formed by the circulartube, as a diameter.

4. A goal assembly according to claim 1 wherein the outer circular tubecomprises a length of standard polyethylene water pipe.

5. A goal assembly according to claim 1 wherein the central goalincludes a bowl of plastics material which is inverted and has thecentre bottom of the bowl removed to make an opening to receive theball.

6. A goal assembly according to claim 1 wherein the central goalincludes a bowl of plastics material which is inverted and has thecentre bottom removed to receive the ball, a number of additional holesbeing provided, some in the side through which the inner ends of therays are extended and some in the outer bottom to receive the legs of anarch member which stands up above the goal to act as the goal posts.

7. A goal assembly according to claim 1 wherein four separate radialrays are provided set at apart.

8. A goal assembly according to claim 1 wherein four diametrical raymembers are provided connected to the central goal member in the middleso as to form two pairs of oppositely disposed radial rays.

9. A goal assembly according to claim 1 wherein the circular tubeconsists of a single length of tube with its two ends interconnected bymeans of a plug fixed in one end and projecting therefrom so that theprojection can be inserted into the other end, disconnection beingprevented by providing a sleeve to embrace the joint.

10. A goal assembly according to claim 1 including an anchor in the formof a weight connected to the central goal by a flexible and resilientcable which is wound on and unwound from a reel as required.

11. A goal assembly according to claim 1 wherein each ray has a loop atthe outer end to be slipped over the tube to secure the rays on thetube, the rays being located in correct position by a pair of collars ateach locating point, the collars being fixed to the outside of the tube.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,014,723 12/1961 Butler.

3,134,594 5/1964 Crowley 273 3,350,097 10/1967 Chevrette et al 273--105FOREIGN PATENTS 737,211 9/ 1955 Great Britain. 764,760 1/ 1957 GreatBritain.

OTHER REFERENCES Playthings, July 1964, vol. 62, N0. 7, p. 168. Poolsand Inflatables, Ideal Mfg. Co. catalogue, 1965. Water Fun, ArgoIndustries Corp. 1965 catalogue.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

